Bolster



Dec. 31, 1940. w. H. slr-'NAGLE 2,226,749

v BoLsTER Filed April 27, 1938 l/JI/ IIA 32 n am z /2 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 3l, 1940 UNITED STATES APMlari'l OFFICE Appuanon April 21, 193s, seriaiNo. 2014.547

8 Clniml.

This invention relates to bolsters in general and in particular to truck holsters fabricated from standard sections so joined as to form a unitary structure. l

Bolsters as constructed in thepast have been generally cast in one piece with a few attempts made to form welded bolsters following the design of the cast bolster. Such welded holsters, since 'they have followed more or less the cast design, have necessitated the use'of expensive dies and formera and an excessive amount of welding. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide acheap, simply constructed bolster in the building" of which expensive dies and formers are avoided.

A further object off'the invention is' the pro- 'vision of a fabricated bolster in which standard rolled sections and plate are used. Y

A still further object of the invention is th provision of a bolster in which the major portion thereof is formedrby modified AAR centerksill sections welded'together.

I'hese and other objectso'i the invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the artvfrom a study of the following description and accompanying drawing, in which I v Figure 1 is an elevational view of substantially one-half the completedbolster: p

Fig. 2 is-a plan'view oi substantially one-half the bolster; v

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on Fig. 4 is an end View of the bolster; Y Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the AAR center sill as cut out prior to bending to form the bolster side element,fand

' relatively long ilange 2, web 4 and a relatively short flange 6. In order to reduce the depth kof the bolster adjacent its ends a generally triangular shaped piece of metal is removed from the web at each end of by cutting the web as at 8 k(Fig. 5). With this portion of'the web removed the flange 2 and lower portion of the web 4 may be deflected upwardly to bring the cut edges of the web into abutment after which they may be securely'welded as at 9 and the extreme ends of the bolster trimmed in orderto eliminate the excess projection of ange 6 and upper portion of web 4. It is to be noted that in order to relieve the metal at the apex of the-triangle a circular portion has been removed which will be closed by a plug Il securely welded in position (Fig.` 1).`

With the center sill 'sections sovmodied it will be next necessaryto trim at least 'oneofthe flanges y2in order that the proper width of the v bolster may be obtained. After trimming of the plate and a substantialportion, insofar asy strength is concerned, of the top cover plate.`

' In order -to reinforce the-center portion of the bolster and provide additional support for'the center platel metal plates I4, preferably out from the waste portion of the web, are weldedto the webs 4 and have secured thereto a center member I6 of standard I-beam section with a portion of the web removed as at I8 to permit entrance of the king pin while at the sametime'providing a support therefor. The bolster is preferably reinforced adjacent theA side bearings by roughly pan shaped members 20 having side'anges 22 and top and bottom flanges A24 alljoined together by a web portion `26 preferably arched as at 28 to give added strength to'the member. 'Ihis side bearing support and bolster brace is securely riveted orL `oth'ervise secured to thebolster webs as at 30.

and to the flanges 2 thus vstiflening the bolster and strengthening the welds 9 in the web` 'section as well as weldl I2 joining the flanges.

The bolster is now ready for application ofthe cover plate T which vconsists of a piece of metal with Vthe central portion 32 substantially horizontal and pressed downwardly as at 34 to provide a braclngfandstliening portion at the ends of the bolster which bear upon the supporting springs. 'Ihis bracing portion of the top cover plate is substantially channel form'in cross section with the flanges 36 directed upwardly for attachment to the webs of the bolster side web plates asat 38 and with the web inclined downwardly to terminate in a substantiallyhorizontal portion 40 which is secured asat 4I to the end portions of the bottom bolster element. The edges of the top cover plate are welded or otherwise secured to the outwardly directed reflanges 6 of the center sill sections forming-the main'` portion of the bolster and this cover plate is, substantially co-` extensive with thereanges which have been cutas at 44 in order that the total width of the bolster at vits ends may be reduced to permit of its insertion between the truck column guides (not shown). The customary spring cap positioning lug'46 may be welded or otherwise4 secured to the bolster between the customary column strengthen the bolster by retaining the excessmetal in the flanges 2 in which case the excess metal may be flanged upwardly as at B (see Fig. 6) and these flanges brought into abutment and welded together as at 62, thus giving a bolster materially stronger than `that previously de#- scribed.

While the bolster has been described more or 1 5 less in detail, it is obvious thatvarious modiflcations, rearrangements of parts and materials will beapparent to persons skilled inthe art and all such modifications, rearrangements of parts and materials are contemplated as fall within the scope of the following claims:

What -is claimed is;

1. A bolster for railway and like vehicles comprising in part, a pair of Z section structural elements having inwardly directed lower flanges welded together at'their edges and outwardly directed flanges spaced upwardly therefrom thereby forming an upwardly open reflanged channel member, and a cover plate secured to the outwardly directed flangesftdform a substantially box` section bolster, said cover plate being Adeflected at its ends `Iinto contact with said lower 'flanges thereby closing saidbox section bolster.

2. A bolster forrailway and like vehicles comprising in part, a pair of Z section elements of substantially-equal lengths each having upper and lower flanges and a connectingweb, eachof said" elements having a triangular shapedportion of the web adjacent either end cutawayY and each merginginto substantially circularcut away `40 portions,.the lcut edges of the web` portion remaining adjacent either, end after yremoval of the triangular spaced portion `being forced substantially into contact and welded together to provide a Z section of varying web depth. means welded to said web and closing said substantially circular cut away portions. said lower flanges being directed inwardly and secured together and said upper flanges being directed outwardly there- `by forming a reflanged channel member of diminshed depth outwardly of the transverse center thereof and a cover plate secured to said outwardly directed flanges and having its ends deected downwardly into contact with said lower flanges of the bolster to which they are secured thereby forming a substantially closed box-section bolster.. Y Y l 3. A bolsterfor railway andlike vehicles comprising in part, Va pair of Z section elements of substantially equal lengths each having upper and lower flanges and a connecting web, each kof` said elements having, a portion of the ,web` adjacent either end cut away and having the cut'edges of the web portion remaining adjacent either end forced substantially into contact 'andwelded to- 35 gether to'iprovide a Z' section of varying web depth, said lower flanges being directed inwardly and secured together and said upper 'flanges being directed outwardly vthereby forming a reflanged channel member `of diminished depth outwardly of `the transverse center thereof. and a cover plate secured to said outwardly directed flanges to form a substantially box-section Vbolster, said cover plate having theends thereof bent inwardly and secured to the lower flanges of the Z section elementthereby substantially closing the box-section bolster and ybracing the same adjacent its ends. o l o 4. A bolster for railway `and like vehicles comprising in parta pair of Z section elements each having upper and lower flanges and a connecting I web, said lower flanges having their edges reflanged substantially #parallel to the connecting webs and secured together, said upper flanges being directed outwardly in upwardly spaced relation to the' lower flanges, and a cover plate l0 secured to said outwardly directed flanges to form a substantially,box-section bolster reenforced by said refianges.

5. A bolster for railway and like vehicles comprising in part, va pair of Z section elements each l5 havingupperand lower flanges and a connecting web, saidlowerlflanges having their edges reflanged substantially parallel to the connecting webs rand secured togetherysaid upper flanges being directed outwardly in upwardly spaced re- 20 lation to the lower flanges,` and acover plate secured to said outwardly directed flanges to form a substantially box-section bolster reenforced by said refianges, said cover plate having the ends thereof reduced in; widthrand bent inwardly and 25 secured to the lower;` flanges ofr the Z section elements thereby closing the box-section bolster and strengthening the same adjacent its ends.`

6. A bolster for railway and` like vehicles, comprlsingin part, apair` of Z vsectionelements of 30 substantiallyv equal lengths cach havingupper and lower flanges and a connecting web, each of said elements having "a portion of the web` adjacent either end 'out away and having the cut edges of the webwportion remaining adjacent 35 either end forced substantially;into` contact and welded together to provide a Z` section ofvarying web depth, ,said lower flanges being directed iu- .wardly and having their edges reflangedsubstantially parallel to the connecting webs, the lower 40 flanges being secured together and said upper flanges being directed outwardly thereby forming a reenforced reflanged` channel member of diminished depth outwardlyof the transversecenter thereof, and .afcover platesecured. to said 45 outwardly directed flanges to form a substantially box-section bolster. ,y

A7. ,A bolster fonrailway and like vehiclescomprising in part, a pair ofZ `sectionelements each having upper and lower flanges and a connecting 50 web, said lower flanges` havingtheir edges reflanged upwardly` substantially f parallel vto, the connecting webs and secured together,` `saidupper flanges being directed outwardly in upwardly spaced relation to thelower flanges, and a cover 55 plate secured tosaid outwardly directed flanges to form ahsubstantially box-sectionv bolster re enforced internally bysaid reflanges.;

` 8. A bolster for railway and like Avehicles comprising in parta`pair,of `Z section elementsl each 60 having upper and lower flanges and a connecting web,` saidlower flanges being directed inwardly and directly secured together and ,the/upper flanges being directed outwardlythereby forming a reflanged channel section member.' center and 65 side bearing `bracing means located within the channel section membervandsecured to thewebs and to the` lower flanges, and` a cover platev secured to saidoutwardly directed flanges and having its ends deflected downwardly into contact 70 with said lower flanges `to which theyare se cured `thereby lforming a,closed boxfsection `bolster internallyreenforced by said bracing means. 

